WHAT IS TRENCHLESS PIPE REPAIR?

Trenchless pipe repair involves cleaning out a sewer line and repairing it by installing an epoxy lining. By sealing the inside of the pipe like this, stormwater is kept out of the pipe. Tree roots can’t grow into the pipe. And leaks are prevented.

Installing this epoxy lining is done through an access point. This means there’s no need to dig a trench to access, repair, or replace the sewer pipe. No digging means no there’s no damage to your sidewalk, driveway, and landscaping.

Repairing or replacing a damaged busted up yard, driveway, or sidewalk adds to the overall cost of traditional sewer line repair. By eliminating digging, we can reduce the total cost of pipe repair or replacement. You also get a longer lasting and more durable repair. This means fewer repairs over the span of many years. In fact, a trenchless pipe repair can last for up to 50 years or more.

HOW DOES TRENCHLESS PIPE REPAIR WORK?

Overall, a crew of 3 to 5 plumbers will carry out about 100 steps over the course of several days. A half day is typically needed for prep work. A full-day is usually necessary for the installation. Then, a portion of another day is generally needed to assess the completed work and ensure all local requirements have been met.

Here’s a brief summary of the process:

It all begins with a sewer line video inspection.

Next, the pipe is cleaned of any debris or roots – this is followed by a pressure washing of the inside “walls” of the sewer line.

Once cleaned out, the pipe liner is prepared and coated with special expoxies

State of the art tools and equipment are used to maneuver the lining into the pipe where it’s pressurized and then cured with steam to set the resins and seal this “pipe-within-a-pipe.

Equipment is then removed and another visual camera inspection is performed to confirm everything is sealed to perfection.

HOW MUCH DOES TRENCHLESS PIPE REPAIR COST?

Many factors determine the cost of trenchless pipelining. The biggest factor is the length of the pipe that needs to be lined. Other pricing variables might be the pipe’s overall condition, how much cleaning is needed, how complicated the pipe is to navigate, the access point location, and how involved equipment positioning is. Trenchless pipelining, on average, will cost about half as much traditional sewer line repair where digging is needed.

CAN PIPE LINER BE INSTALLED WITHOUT DIGGING UP LANDSCAPING, A SIDEWALK, OR DRIVEWAY?

The answer is yes in most situations. In fact, this is actually what makes trenchless pipelining more cost-efficient than a traditional repair. There’s usually no need to replace or repair a dug up yard or broken up driveway or sidewalk.

WHY HAVE SOME PLUMBERS INSISTED ON DIGGING UP MY PIPES?

Not many plumbers have the necessary training, certification or equipment to offer trenchless sewer line repair. There are also legitimate situations where trenchless pipelining just isn’t an option – for instance, if part of the sewer line is collapsed.

WILL TRENCHLESS SEWER REPAIR WORK WITH OLD & FRAGILE PIPES?

Yes. For an effective trenchless repair, the existing pipes only to have about 20% integrity. A trenchless sewer line repair is possible just as long as the pipes aren’t completely collapsed. Your contractor will carefully assess the condition of the pipes before proceeding with any sewer system repair – whether it’s trenchless or traditional. You will be told the nature of the problem and the best solution to resolve it.

IS A ZERO DIG PIPE REPAIR THE SAME AS TRENCHLESS PIPE REPAIR?

Generally, it is. One plumber may market the same service as “zero dig” that another will advertise as “trenchless.” That said, the devil is in the details. Don’t just assume they’re one in the same. Be sure to confirm that a zero dig pipe repair includes the installation of a Perma-Liner and isn’t just a sewer line pipe cleaning. A cleaning involves zero digging but merely cleaning a pipe without installing an epoxy lining won’t resolve a leak.

HOW LONG DOES A TRENCHLESS PIPE RELINING TAKE?

A crew of 3 to 5 can typically complete a trenchless sewer line replacement with one full day of work. Prep work prior to installation may require half of a day. Then, another third of a day is needed for an additional camera inspection for local inspectors to verify all work has been completed per local regulations and code.

CAN PIPE LINER BE INSTALLED UNDER A BASEMENT FLOOR?

Yes, in many situations, trenchless pipelining can be performed under a basement floor. A small access point might need to be cut into the floor but the majority of your basement floor can be preserved.

IS TRENCHLESS PIPELINING THE BEST WAY TO KEEP TREE ROOTS FROM WRECKING MY SEWER LINE

Yes, aside from completely digging up and replacing the pipe, trenchless pipelining is the absolute best solution for tree root intrusion. Even if roots are physically removed from a pipe, or cleared out with the use of chemicals, they can still grow back. Roots can continue to grow for up to five years after a tree is cut down.

HOW SAFE IS TRENCHLESS SEWER LINE REPAIR?

In many ways, trenchless pipelining is much safer than digging up a sewer line. The ground is settled and undisturbed by the lining process. The pipelining process doesn’t shift or affect your home’s foundation, yard, driveway, or sidewalk. There’s also no risk of increasing tension or cracking a pipe or screwing up the sewer pipe’s slope when backfilling like there is if you dig a sewer line.

HOW LONG WILL TRENCHLESS PIPELINING LAST?

The material used in trenchless technology is resistant to the water byproduct deposits that often cling to a sewer line’s inner walls. This is because the pipe is lined with an epoxy that makes it highly durable for an average of 50 years.

IS TRENCHLESS PIPE REPAIR COVERED BY INSURANCE?

Homeowners insurance may occasionally cover a portion of sewer repair cost and certain types of coverage can be purchased to defray the cost; however, whether you’re covered or not, trenchless pipe repair generally costs about half as much as the cost of digging up sewer lines. So, trenchless pipelining will reduce either the amount of your homeowner’s claim or your out of pocket expenses.